قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ[Tell them (O' Prophet ﷺ) : O'people of the Book, let us come to a common word between us, that we worship none but Allah, and make none His partner, and that none of us take any others as Lords beside Allah.' If they turn away, you tell them : 'Be witness that we are Muslims.']

In the above verse, the contention of Christians and Jews is negated. Christians claim Hadhrat Isa (عليه السلام) is son of God. Jews claim Hadhrat Uzair (عليه السلام) is the son of God.

We have briefly discussed below how a deviant sect 'Ammanis' misinterpret the above verse to mislead Muslims. It is important information for Muslims to safeguard their Iman.

BRIEF HISTORY OF AMMANI SECT

In 2004-05 King Abdullah II of Jordan prepared a document called Amman Message. Many Scholars belonging to different sects among Muslims signed this document to agree to the new beliefs of this deviant sect. Under Amman Message, two things were agreed, as follows:

(i)The Amman Message declared that All Muslim sects are true Muslims.

(ii)The Amman Interfaith Message declared that Jews, Christians and anyone who believed in one god, irrespective of his perception about God is a believer, just like Muslims.

King Abdullah II of Jordan obtained the signatures of many rulers of Muslim majority countries as well as some famous scholars belonging to various Muslim sectson the above documents. The King also embarked on a dialogue with Christian scholars under his 'Common Word Program' based on Amman Interfaith Message.

Under Amman Interfaith Message, they claimed that there are three central ideas that are common to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as follows.

(i) Belief in the one God

(ii) Worship and devotion to God

(iii) Love and justice towards fellow human beings.

Amman Interfaith Message was based on the misinterpretation of the following Quranic verse and claim that Christians, Jews and Muslims are all brothers in Iman (faith).

(i) It is in Quran -قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ [ Tell them (O' Prophet ﷺ) : O' people of the Book, let us come to a common word between us, that we worship none but Allah, and make none His partner, and that none of us take any others as Lords beside Allah.' If they turn away, you tell them : 'Be witness that we are Muslims.'] (Aal-e-Imran - 64).

Then they claim that the following verse is for all, Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The above is from Sura al-Hujrat. The entire Sura al-Hujurat deals with Muslims. There is no mention of Ahle Kitab in the Suran. The verse explains that if two Muslims have a conflict of any kind, it is important that we make peace and reconciliations between them. Here Muslims are declared as brothers to each other.

The verse # 64 above is asking Christians and Jews to come back to the right belief. It is primarily meant to invite Christians to Islam by asking them to refrain from their belief in three Gods. The verse does not call Christians as believers, rather it asks Christians and Jews to become believers like Muslims by renouncing their self concocted theories.

It is in Quran -وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ ۖ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ [ The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! ] (At-Taubah - 30)

The above Quranic verse says 'Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) curse be on Christians and Jews' for calling the Prophets as sons of God.

It is in Quran - لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ ۘ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۚ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُوا عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ [Indeed those who say : 'Allah is the third of the Trinity' became unbelievers. There is but One God. If they do not desist in what they say, a painful punishment will afflict those of them that disbelieve. ] (Al-Ma'eda - 73)

In the above verse, Christians are clearly regarded as Unbelievers (Mushrikeen) who will enter Hell for painful punishment. There is Ijma (consensus) on the above verse. If they change their faith and believe in the existence of one God, as described in Quran, and they also believe in Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) as the seal of Prophets and obey the Islamic commandments, then they can be treated as "Believers".

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 065

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنْجِيلُ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ[O' people of the Book, why you argue about Ibrahim (عليه السلام)? The Torah and the Gospel were sent down (long) after him. Do you not understand? ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 066

هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ حَاجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ[ Remember you are people who disputed about the things you had (some) knowledge (earlier); (but) why do you dispute in the matter you are (totally) unaware of? Allah knows and you do not know. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 067

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِنْ كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ[ Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was a Muslim, free from all falsehood, and not from the polytheists. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 068

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ[ Certainly, among all the people who have the best claim about Ibrahim (عليه السلام) are those who followed him, (they are) this Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and the believers; and Allah is the guardian of the believers. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 069

وَدَّتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَوْ يُضِلُّونَكُمْ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ[ A group among the people of the Book wish to lead you (O' believers) astray. They can lead none but themselves astray, though they don't realize it.]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 070

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ[ O' people of the book! Why do you deny the revelations of Allah (the Quran) while you are witnessing (the truth)? ]

وَقَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ آَمِنُوا بِالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَجْهَ النَّهَارِ وَاكْفُرُوا آَخِرَهُ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ[ A section among the people of the book said (to their associates in confidence), (pretend to) believe in that which was revealed to the believers in the morning, but reject it in the evening (in order to create doubts in the minds of the new converts), so that they may return (to disbelieve). ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 073

وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا إِلَّا لِمَنْ تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ الْهُدَى هُدَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُؤْتَى أَحَدٌ مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَاجُّوكُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ[ (The people of the book also tell their associates in confidence) Do not trust (anyone) except those who follow your religion. Say (O' Prophet ﷺ) 'The (true) guidance is the guidance of Allah. (They also tell their associates do not believe that, other than you) someone else (would) be given the religion like you were given, or that someone could overtake you in argument and evidence before your Lord? Say (O' Prophet ﷺ), 'Surely, (all) bounty is in the hand of Allah, He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is All Encompassing, All Wise.' ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 074

يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ[ He chooses by His Mercy, whoever He likes, and Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 075

وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَنْ إِنْ تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنْطَارٍ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ إِنْ تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍ لَا يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَائِمًا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ سَبِيلٌ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ[ There are some among the people of the Book who (would) return a whole treasure entrusted to them; yet there are some who do not give back a dinar until you demand and insist on it, because they say : 'It is not a sin for us to (usurp) the rights of the illiterates (Arabs). Yet they lie against Allah, and they know about it. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 076

بَلَى مَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ وَاتَّقَى فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ[ Certainly whoever keeps his promise and follows the right path (will be blessed), for Allah loves those who guard against evil and follow the right path. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 077

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ[ Those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their (own) oaths for a small price will have no share in Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them (in this world); and they will have a painful punishment. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 078

وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُمْ بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ[ Among them is a section (of people) which distorts in reading the Scripture in a way that, though it sounds like the Scripture, in fact it is not; yet they say it is from Allah, when they know it is not; and they lie about Allah, knowingly. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 079

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ[ It is not for any human to whom Allah has given the Book and wisdom and Prophet-hood, that he should afterwards say to the people, leave (the worship of) Allah and worship me. He will surely say, be sincere in the worship of Allah, because you teach the Book and you preach from it.]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 080

وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ[ And nor will he command you to make the angels and the Prophets as gods; would he (a Prophet) command you to disbelieve after you have become Muslims? ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 081

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آَتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ[Behold! Allah took the covenant (promise) of (all) the prophets, saying: 'I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle (Mohammad ﷺ), confirming what is with you; do you believe in him and render him help.' Allah said : 'Do you agree, and take this my Covenant as binding upon you?' They said : 'We agree.' He said : "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.]

The world in which we are living is known as the World of Manifestation (Aalam-e-Shahadat - عالمِ شھادت). It is also known as 'Physical World' (Aalam-e-Nasoot - عالمِ ناسوت) and 'World of Creation' (Aalam-e-Khalq - عالمِ خلق).

In the World of Manifestation, things are perceived by the outward senses. They have weight, along with face and form. They are subjected to period and dwelling. They gradually reach to completeness. In the World of Manifestation only the 'present' is known and witnessed. Past and future are not observed.

It is important to know that nothing could exist in the world of Manifestation unless its existence is there in the 'subtle worlds' (Awaalam-e-Ma'fouq - عوالمِ مافوق).

What are the 'Subtle worlds'?

These are (i) World of Angels (عالمِ ملكوت) and (ii) World of Similitude (عالمِ مثال).

The World of Similitude has face, form and 'prolongation' (imtedaad - امتداد). Because of its prolongation, it seems like an 'abode'. But that world is free from spacial and physical body consideration.

It is in the World of Similitude that all Prophets and Apostles were gathered and Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) took a covenant from them about Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

At the time of Me'araj, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) led the prayers of all Prophets and Apostles in 'the World of Similitude'.

The world of similitude is hidden from the people of the world of Manifestation. However, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) opens this world to a select few of His Awliya during their lives.

The Awliya and pious are transferred to the World of Similitude after their deaths.

A section of this world is known as 'the world of demarcation' (عالمِ برزق). People who are allowed to sleep after the questioning in the grave and those who are subjected to torment after the questioning in the grave live in this world.

The people who pass the test of grave get transferred to the World of Similitude. Details on this issue have been covered in the Tafseer of similar other Quranic verses.

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 082

فَمَنْ تَوَلَّى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ[ So those who turn away after this, it is they who are the sinners. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 083

أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَنْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ[ So do they desire a religion other than the religion of Allah, whereas to Him has submitted whoever is in the heavens and the earth, by choice or constraint, and to Him they will return. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 084

قُلْ آَمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ[Say (O' Prophet ﷺ) We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down on us (Quran), and sent down on Ibrahim ( عليه السلام) and Isma'il (عليه السلام), Is-haq (عليه السلام) and Ya'qub (عليه السلام), and the Tribes, and in that which was given to Musa (عليه السلام) and Isa (عليه السلام), and (among) the prophets of their Lord; we make no division between any of them. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 085

وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ[ And if one seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him; and he is among the losers in the Hereafter.]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 086

كَيْفَ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ قَوْمًا كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ وَشَهِدُوا أَنَّ الرَّسُولَ حَقٌّ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ[ How can Allah show the way to those who, having come to faith, turned away, even though they had borne witness that the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) was true, and the clear signs had reached them? Allah does not guide those who are unjust. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 087

أُولَئِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ أَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ[ The recompense for those is that, on them is the curse of Allah, His angels and men combined.]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 088

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ[ They shall live under it (curse), and their torment will not decrease nor will be a respite for them. ]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا لَنْ تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الضَّالُّونَ[ Certainly, those who disbelieve after having accepted faith, and advance further in their disbelief, their repentance will never be accepted; and it is they who have gone astray. ]

Juz 3, Aal-i-Imran, Verse 091

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ مِلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَى بِهِ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ[ Those who disbelieved and died as disbelievers, an Earth full of gold will not be accepted from any one of them, even if he offers it for his freedom; for them is a painful punishment and they will not find anyone to help them.]